Frieze New York Opens Doors for First-Time Artists and Galleries

In 2021, Jenni Crain, an artist and curator, died from Covid complications. She was only 30.

“Showing Jenni’s work felt urgent, important and personal,” said Gordon, 52. “Her narrative, her life, this work, is something we can give honor to and celebrate. This fair is a catalyst that activates audiences and amplifies artists. Having her work exposed here, our hope is to develop institutional interest for 2026. And to make sure people don’t forget her.”

Approximately seven of Crain’s pieces will be available for viewing, including sculptures using wood and glass and paint.

“All of her work has a minimal aesthetic. She was interested in how things were made, almost like puzzles,” said Gordon, of work that was produced from 2015 up until Crain’s death. “There’s a lot of excitement around her and this work, and our booth. An art fair like this keeps her present.”

King’s Leap, an eight-year-old gallery on Henry Street in Manhattan, and Audrey Gair, a New York-based abstract painter — one of six artists it represents — are both making their Frieze debut.

“Audrey and I have worked very hard together to get to this place,” said Alec Petty, 31, the gallery’s owner and director, who has worked with Gair since 2019. “It’s not just an introduction to her practice, but to the ethos and the story behind the gallery. For us, this is a moment to showcase her work, and to make a statement about the artistic identity she’s trying to project.”

Gair works in large-scale abstract paintings. Her core themes include modern but nostalgic and childlike playful subject matters — a bookshelf or couch for example — whose repeated shapes are referred to within the painting.